Display device for articles of merchandise



Jan. 13, 1942. H.'L. MYERS D I SPLAY DEVICE FOR ARTICLES 0F MERCHANDISE Filed May 20, 1939 m m m y 11111. Llilliiiii... il fl! v v {It m H m M 6 .5 mm n m M M .4 MA 0 Z 9 i Mm 2 w Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED DISPLAY DEVICE FOR ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE Harold L. Myers, Mcrristown, N. J. Application May 20,1939, Serial No. 214,725 3 Claims. (01; 206-44) The invention relates to display devices for articles of merchandise and has for its object to provide a display device constructed in a novel manner to include one or more recesses dimensioned and shaped to accommodate the articles of merchandise for which the device is designed. The invention contemplates particularly a display device of maximum simplicity for displaying the article or articles of merchandise in an attractive manner and so as to be easily removable at will for purposes of sale and the like. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an example of the invention without defining-its limits, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. I; Fig. 4 is a similar cross-section showing the device in a folded, flat condition, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the device in a partly completed condition.

The novel device comprises a single sheetof cardboard or other suitable material and consists of a front member I provided with at least one opening II of predetermined shape and di mensions dependent upon the articles of merchandise for which the device is designed, and preferably having a plurality of such openings II arranged in groups for instance as shown in Fig. l, or otherwise as may be desired. In the illustrated example the openings II are of rectangular shape and dimensioned to accommodate rectangular articles of merchandise 0. as exemplified for instance by conventional packages of safety-razor blades.

Main or outer spacingv panels I2 are foldably connected with the front member II], for instance, along opposite side edges thereof, in any convenient manner as by means of score lines I3. The main spacing panels I2 further are foldably connected with panel sections I l and I respectively in any suitable manner as by meansjof score lines I6 extending in parallel relation to the score lines I3. In the finished device, the panel sections I4 and I5 have their free edge portions in overlapping surface engagement and fastened together in any conventional manner as by metallic staples II to constitute a rear member located in surface parallelism with the front member III in rearward registry with the one or more openings I I. An auxiliary or inner spacing panel I8 is foldably connected with the panel section I4 in any suitable manner as for instance by means of a score line I9, and is itself foldably connected with a flap 2D for instance along a score line 2| or in any other equivalent manner; as shown in the drawing, the score lines I9 and 2| are parallel with each other and with the score lines I3 and I6. In the. completed'device the flap 20 lies in surface engagement with the inner face of the front member III and is secured theretoby means of metallic staples 22 or in any other convenient way. To facilitate the application of the staples 22 or their equivalent, the panel section I.4' of the rear member may be providedat predetermined points with openings 23; it'will be understood that theopenings 23 correspond in number and location with the number and location of staples-22 used in a given device.

In itsinitial condition, the device consists of a blank cut and scored-to provide the desired arrangement. To construct the device from the aforesaid blank, the flap 20 and auxiliary spacing panel I8 together are folded back on the score line I9 into surface engagement with the inside face of the panel section I4 as shown in Fig. 5. With the parts in their relation, the panel sec-' tion I4 and the main spacing panel I2 with which it is foldably connected, are folded on the associated score lines I6 and I3 to bring the foldedfi'ap 20-and auxiliary spacing panel I8 into surface engagement with the inside face of the front member II] as shown in Fig. 5. The staples 22 are then applied in registry with and through the openings 23 so as to pass through the flap 20 and front member I0 and thereby fasten said flap 2|] to and in-surface engagement with said from member I0 as illustrated in Fig. 5. The panel'section I5 and the main spacing panel I2 with which it is foldably connected, are then folded on the associated score lines I3 and I6 to bring the panel section I5 into overlapping surface engagement with the panel section M, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The staples Il may then be applied through the openings II so as to extend through the overlapping portions. of the panel sections I4 and I5; the latter are thereby fastened together to provide the rear member so that the device, at thisstage, appears as shown in Fig. 4. In this folded condition said device is of compact flat form and accordingly may be readily stored and shipped in large numbers in a relatively small space.

To adjust the device to its unfolded operative condition, the main spacing panels I2 are folded, for instance, on the score lines I3, into upright approximately perpendicular relation to the front member I0. This adjustment of said panels I2 The arrangement is such that the articles a when- I in place in the openings H project outwardly beyond the front member as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2; this result is attained by properly dimensioning the panels I2 and l8-relathereof, and a flap in permanent foldable connection with the auxiliary spacing panel and se- 1 cured in surface engagement with the inner face tively to the particular articles a for which a given device is designed, and enables said'a'rticles a to be readily removed at will for purposes of sale or the like.

The device may further include a panel 24 for displaying advertising matter, said panel 24 for instance, forming an extension of the front member ID and being foldable relatively thereto on a score line 25. In the preferred arrangement the panel 24 is provided with an additional score line 26 in spaced parallel relation to the score line 25 as shown in Fig. 1. The score line 26 enables the panel 24 to be folded over the front member ID and into surface engagement with the articles a as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, it being understood that the distance between the score lines 25 and 26 is approximately equal to the extent of projection of the articles a outwardly beyond the front member Ill. With the described arrangement the panel 24 may be folded over the front member or over and into contact with the articles a, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2; in this condition the device, whether empty or filled, is of compact form and is easily stored and shipped.

The device, with the articles a in place in the openings Il, may be maintained in display position in any conventional manner as by providing the panel 24 with a suspending eyelet 21 as shown in Fig. l. The device may further include any other features commonly formed in corresponding types of display devices, as well as special features in addition to those shown in the draw- In all of its forms, the novel device is simple in construction and economical to produce and in its folded flat condition occupies a minimum of space and is readily stored and transported in small or large quantities. In its operative unfolded condition with the articles a in place, the device is also compact and easily handled.

Obviously the openings ll may be otherwise shaped and otherwise grouped than illustrated in the selected example Without in any way affecting the efficiency and purpose of the device.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a front member of said front member, said spacing panels being pivotally movable in parallelism to shift the panel sections into spaced parallelism with said front member to constitute a common bottom for the openings therein and to provide a complete display body of tubular open ended form.

2. A display device comprising a front member provided with at least two spaced openings terminating at opposite edges of said front member and dimensioned and shaped to accommodate predetermined articles of merchandise, panel sections fastened together in overlapping surface engagement and located rearwardly of said front member in registry with the openings thereof, main spacing panels in permanent foldable connection with said front member along opposite edges thereof and with said panel sections along the respective outer edges thereof, an auxiliary spacing panel in permanent foldable connection with the inner panel section along the inner edge thereof, a flap in permanent foldable connection with the auxiliary spacing panel and secured in surface engagement with the inner face of said front member, said spacing panels being pivotally movable in parallelism to shift the panel sections into spaced parallelism with said front member to constitute a common bottom for the openings therein and to provide a complete display body of tubular open ended form, and a display panel comprising an extension of said front member beyond one end of said tubular display body.

3. A display device comprising a front member provided with openings having their inner end in spaced registry with each other, panel sections fastened together at their inner edge portions in overlapping surface engagement rearwardly of said front member, main spacing members foldably connected with said front member and with said panel sections, and an auxiliary panel section foldably connected with the inner edge of said inner panel section and foldably connected with the inner surface of said front member in approximate registry with the inner end of one of said openings, said spacing members being pivotally movable in parallelism to shift the connected panel sections into spaced parallelism with said front member to constitute a common bottom for the openings therein and to provide a complete display body of tubular open ended form.

HAROLD L. MYERS. 

